Steam drop-hammer



(No Model.)

J. 0..R1GHARDSGN.

STEAM DROP HAMMER.

No. 248,505. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

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IlNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS C. RICHARDSON, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

STEAM DROP-HAMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,505, dated October 18, 1881. Application filed August 9.9, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J ULrUs C. RICHARDSON, of Columbus, in the State of Ohio, have invented certain I mprovements in Steam Drop- Hammers; and I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a vertical section, through the lifting devices, of theimproved hammer. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on line a', Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view ofthe valve. Fig. 4 is a detail, to be referred to.

My invention relates to steam drop-hammers; and the object of my invention is to utilize the exhaust-steam which passes from beneath the ham mer-piston after the hammer is raised to increase the force of the blow made by the descending hammer, and to construct the hammer so it will deliver rapidly andwith short strokes a heavy blow.

My invention consists in certain details of construction, as hereinafter described and specilically claimed. n

In order that those skilled in the art may make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A is he base of the machine.

B B are two vertical guide-brackets, between which the hammer-head slides, and which are adjustable backward and forward by means of set-screws C.

The lifting-cylinder D is formed of any desirable pipe, bored true. The base of the cylindcr is attached to a small steam-chest, E, in

which moves a valve, D', controlled bya bellcrank lever, a, and a rod, b, passing to a lever or treadle at the base or anvil of the hammer. rIhe steam is introduced through pipe d into the steam-chest E, and through port e when the valve is in position, as shown in Fig. 3. The live steam rushes through port e beneath the piston-head and raises the hammer, the piston coming in contact with a cushioningspring, f,sustained by an adjustable bar, g, secured between two vertical clamping-plates, L h, fastened to the head t'.

From the end of the steam-chest a large ex haust-pipe, Gr, passes to and opens into the upper end of the cylinder above the piston. 'Ihe valve D is bored longitudinally, so as to balance it in the steam-chest E.

Near the upper head, i, the cylinder is provided with trunnions T T, which set 'in journal-boxes t t, bolted to beams R R.

The operationis as follows: By means of the operative mechanism the valve D isthrown in the position seen in Fig.3,whereby the steampipe d is connected with the ingress-port e. rEhe steam passing beneath the piston raises the hammer until the piston strikes the spring f. The valve is then changed to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, cutting olf the supply of live steam andopeningportethrough steam-chest E to exhaust-pipe Gr. Instantly the steam beneath the piston, acting expansively,is thrown upon the upper surface of the piston as the hammer commences its descent, and thereby aids the delivery of the blow. A diminutive exhaust-pipe, a, is inserted in the upper end of the cylinder, the said pipe being about one-fourth of the area of pipe G and at'- fordin g an exhaust when the piston again begins to rise. By obviating the placing of the cylinder in a rigid frame connected with the anvil, as l'has heretofore been done in steamhammers, I prevent the heavy strains and racking, which so soon renders unserviceable this class of machines. I also do away with all rocker-arms, sliding bevels in the hammer-head, have no attachment to the columns, thereby simply using the treadle-rod for operating the valve. The swinging cylinder enables me to set the anvil over to a degree, if necessary, to make the dies register perfectly.

I have demonstrated by actual tests that with a machine constructed according to my invention I can perform a given amount of work with a cylinder one-third shorter than heretofore necessary, thereby saving steampower, time, and fuel.

l am aware that heretofore steam-hammers have been made wherein the steam beneath the piston, for raising the hammer, has been suddenly transferred from beneath the piston into the cylinder above the piston to aid the blow as the valve cuts` off the live steam, and

hence I make no broad claim to such invention.

I am also aware that an oscillating steam- IOO cylinder, mounted on trunnions at its lower end, has been utilized for operating a radiallymoving hammer, and consequently I make no broad claim to mounting the cylinder on trunnions.

I am also aware that steam-hammers of this class have been made wherein an exhaust-pipe has been used above the piston of an equal or greater area than the exhaustpipe corresponding to my pipe G; but in such construction any good effect of the steam on the upper side of the piston is lost, owing to its full and free access to the air.

Having thus described nly invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a steam-hammer, the cylinder D, pro- 

